Water gun and target



Aug. 21, 1956 H. E. QUINN 2,759,731

WATER GUN AND TARGET Filed July 22, 1954 FIG.

IN V EN TOR. HA ROL D E OUI/VN Y www ATTORNEY United States Patent Oce 2,759,731 Patented Aug. 21, 1956 WATER GUN AND TARGET Harold E. Quinn, San Diego, Calif.

Application July 22., 1954, Serial No. 44.4,950

9 Claims. (Cl. 273-101) My invention relates to a game apparatus, more particularly to be used by Carnivals and amusement parks and the like and is competitive so that several parties may participate in the game, andv the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a game apparatus of this class' that utilizes water under pressure by several competitors.

Second, to provide a game apparatus of this class in which water is used over and over for operating purposes.

Third, to provide an apparatus of this class that provides an amusing competitive game of very economical operation.

Fourth, to provide a game apparatus of this class that provides a novel game of skill that is interesting to onlookers as well as participants and Fifth, to provide an apparatus of this class that is very simple and economical of construction, easy to install, efficient, durable and will not readily get out of order:

With these and other objects in View as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and the characters of reference thereon which form a part of this application in which:

Figure l is a diagrammatic side elevational view of my game apparatus in use. Fig` 2 is a partial elevational and sectional view on an enlarged scale of the float control portion of my apparatus and Fig. 3 is a top diagrammatic View on a reduced scale of my apparatus shown in Fig. l.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of thedrawings.

The tank table 1, counter 2, water guns 3, valves 4 and 5, pump 6, upright tubes 7, valves 8, water intake 9, and

ball floats constitute the principal parts and portions of my game apparatus.

The tank table 1 is a hollow tank member about 3 feet high by 2 feet wide. It is provided with a'top portion 1a which forms a table and is perforated so that any water that falls on the top of it will pass down inside the tank. Secured on the top of this table 1a is a row of upright tubes 7 supported by means of allange 7a. In this case I have shown eight, although there may be any number desired and forms a battery for competitive playing of the game. This tube is preferably made of transparent plastic as well as the ange 7a. It is provided some distance from its lower end with an outlet portion 7b which is provided with a valve 8 and with a conductor 8a which leads down into the tank 1 through the table portion 1a. This tube 7 is provided on the opposite side from the outlet member 7 b with a water intake 9 which is positioned a suitable distance from the upper end of the tube 7, and positioned in each of these tubes 7 is a colored ball float 10 which is preferably a light hollow ball which is arranged to move freely upwardly and downwardly in the tube 7 floated by the water W therein so that each player can see the position of the colored ball in the transparent tube at all times. The water intake 9 is substantially the same size as the upright portion 7 and is positioned substantially 5 feet above the ground on the member 7 and positioned on the table portion 1a of the tank table 1 as shown best in Fig. 1 of the drawing substantially in line with the eye of the individual using the guns in the contact. The valve 4 furnishes the ow of water to or from the tank 1 and the valves 8 are for the purpose of drawing the water in the tube 7 down to the lower side of the outlet 7b to get ready for a contest in the game, after which the valves 8 are closed and each participant in the game uses a water gun 3 which is controlled by a trigger operated valve by the hand of the operator which permits water under pressure to pass through the tube or conductor 3a to the gun and a very ne stream of water is guided into the inlet member 9 lling the tube 7 and thus raising the ball oat 10 upwardly to the intake opening after which pressure from the gun stream of water will throw the float 10 upwardly. The iirst one to get a ball float out of the top of the tube is a winner of the game. The water pressure to the guns is supplied by the pump 6, drawing water from the tank 1 through the valve 5.

It is to be noted that each participant in the game must tirst ll his tube 7 by water through the gun 3 to raise the ball up to a position so that it is in range through the intake 9 with the gun stream and then by pressure on the lower side of the ball by the stream, the ball is thrown upwardly out of the top of the tube 7 and it is to be noted that during this operation considerable water is lost because it does not go into the intake 9 but most of it will go down onto the table 1a through the perforations therein into the tank 1 so that nearly all the water is used over and over again and the pressure supplied by the pump 6. However, it is to be noted that water may be supplied to the guns 3 through the conductor 3a by connection with the service line of any city water supply with more Waste of water because it would not be used over and over.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction and arrangement of parts and portions, I do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination and arrangement but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a competitive game apparatus the combination of a plurality of aligned vertical tubes closed at their lower ends and open at their upper ends, each of said tubes being provided with a water outlet near its lower end and a water intake near its upper end, said water intakes being arranged to form a series of spaced targets, a float reciprocably mounted in each of said tubes, a shooting line spaced from said tubes, a series of water guns arranged on said shooting line in positions corresponding to said targets and means for delivering water under pressure to said guns, whereby water may be directed into said intake opening and cause the iloat to be projected through the top of said tube denoting a competitive winner.

2. In a competitive game apparatus for playing a target game, at least one vertical tube having a closed lower end and an open upper end provided with a water outlet near its lower end and a water intake adjacent its upper end forming a target opening, a ball floatingly mounted in said tube and adapted to be projected through the top of said tube when the tube is filled with water to a `level substantially equal to the intake opening, a water gun arranged on a tiring line spaced from said target opening and adapted to be directed at said target, and means for supplying water under pressure to said gun whereby when the stream of water strikes the lower portion of the ball in said tube through said target opening the ball will be L '3 projected upwardly through the open upperend of `said tube.

3. In a competitive game apparatus the combination of a table tankfornu'ng. a target butt, at leastone vertical tube arranged to be supported bysaid table tank-having an open upper end and a closed lowerfendand provided with a discharge opening at the lower-portion and an intake opening adjacent theupper portion forming .a target, a shooting line ,spaced from :the -table tank,.at least one water gun on said shooting line, means for supplying water under pressure toA said gun, and a ball oat in saidvertica'l tube whereby kvwhen ysaid tube is filled with water by said gun projectingastream through said intake, the ball will be projected -upwardlythrough the open end ofsaid tube.

4. In a game apparatus for playing a competitive target game, the combination of a table` tank forming a target butt, at least one vertical tube having anopen upper end and a closed lower end, said tube being provided with an intake opening adjacent its upper en-d and a discharge opening near its lower end, a ball tloatmounted in said tube, a valve for controlling said discharge opening, said intake opening being arranged to form a target, a shooting line spaced from said table tank, a watergun on said shooting line positioned for operation in substantial align- Iment with the target intake opening in said tube, whereby said ball iloat will be projected Lupwardly through the open upper end of said tube .when the stream of water from said water gun is directed into said target opening.

5. In a game apparatus for playing .a competitive target game, the combination of a table tank V,for-minga target butt, at least one vertical tubcpositionedl-thereon having an open upper end and a closed lower end, said tube being provided with an intake target opening adjacent its upper end and a discharge opening adjacent its lower end, a valve for controlling `said discharge opening, a ball oat mounted in said tube, a tiring linespaced from said table tank behind which thecompetitor may stand, a water gun on said shooting line positioned-for operation by a competitor in substantial .alignment with the target intake opening in said tube, means for supplying water under pressure to -said gurnwhereby a stream of water may be directed into said target opening and cause the ball oat to be projected .out of .the open upper end of said tube whensaid tube has beendilled .to a point adjacent the target opening.

6. In a game apparatus for playing a competitive target game, the combination of a .table tank formingI a target butt, at least one vertical tube positioned thereon having an open upper end and a closed lower end, said tube being provided with an intake target opening adjacent its upper end and a discharge opening adjacent its lower end, a valve for control-ling said discharge opening, a ball float mounted in said tube, a tiring line spaced from said table tank behind which the competitor may stand, a water gun on said `shooting line positioned for operation by a competitor in substantial alignment with the target intake opening in said tube, -means for supplying water under pressure to said gun, whereby a stream of water may be projected into said target opening,

means for releasing `the water in -said tube by opening said valve.

7. In a game apparatus for playing a competitive target game, the combination of a table tank forming a target butt, at least one vertical tube positioned on said tank having an open upper end and a closed lower end, an intake opening adjacent the upper end of said tube providing a target, a discharge opening adjacent the lower end of said tube, a valve for controlling said discharge opening, a ball oat in said tube, a -shooting line spaced from said tank, a water gun on said line, pump means connecting Isaid line to said tank to supply water under pressure to said water gun, and means for controlling said valve to permit the tube to be emptied after the competitor has directed a jet of water through said intake opening to cause the ball float to rise to the top of the tube and be projected through the open upper end as the iloat approaches a point adjacent the lower portion of the intake opening.

`8. In a game apparatusfor playinga competitive target game, the combination of .a table tank forming a target butt, a plurality of vertical tubes mounted on said tar-get butt having open upper endsl andclosed lower ends, each of said tubes being provided with an intake opening adjacent its upper end forming a target .and a discharge outlet near its lower end, a float arranged in each tube, a ring line spaced from said table tank, a series of water guns on said tiring line positioned for operation in substantial alignment with the target intake openings in said tubes, means for supplying Water under pressure to said guns including a pipe line along said tiring line connected to said water tank to receive water therefrom and means for operating said valves .to permit the water to ybe discharged from said tubes after one of the competitors has directed .a stream of Water into a corresponding target opening to cause the ball oat in said tube to be projected upwardly through the open yupper end thereof.

9. In a game apparatus for playing a competitive target game, the combination of a table tank forming a target butt, a plurality of vertical tubes mounted on said tank having open upper ends and closed lower ends, an intake opening near the `upper .end of each tube providing a target directed toward a tiring line in spaced relation from said tank, .ball oats arranged one in each tube, a series of .water guns on said firing line positioned for operation in substantial alignment with the target intake openings in said tubes, and pump means connecting said tank and water guns to supply -water under pressure thereto simultaneously, whereby the winning competitor may till his corresponding ,tube by projecting astream of Water through the target intake opening and cause the ball oat therein to be projected through the open upper end thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES vPATENTS 1,231,251 Graham June 2.6, 1917 1,526,341 Jeans Feb. 17, 1925 2,285,292 Mangels .June 2, 1942 

